Posted August 5, 201113 yr Hi there, I have 2 budgies, a blue boy named Barry, & a white girl called Lily. Lily was a stray bought into work ( vet clinic) she had been bailed up by someone's dogs, so I bought her home as a friend for Barry. She has done 8 weeks in quarantine and I have just now put her in the same cage as Barry after spending the last week in a cage next to him. They are getting along wonderfully, but my question is: Will they still breed if you do not provide a "box", I really would rather them not breed, but am unsure as to whether this is true, also will he stop talking ?, He has a varied vocab & don't want him to stop talking. Any advise is gratefully accepted.
August 5, 201113 yr Just keep saying the words that he knows and keep talking. also budgies are not known to breed without breeding boxes but it can happen.
August 5, 201113 yr BIG thumbs up for saving her and on the quarantine! As to your questions, without a nest box they usually don't breed. They may still mate but that doesn't mean you'll get eggs and chicks. Some hens will lay random eggs off the perch but they can do this without the presence of a male anyway. Just make sure not to give them anything that looks nest like, like hollows etc... and change things up. Budgie will only breed when they are happy and comfortable in their surroundings... so when you clean the cage move things around... this will also keep them interested and not bored too. As to the talking, keep talking to him and using the words he knows. He shouldn't stop and he may actually do it more as he might talk to his 'girl'. I have an aviary and one of my cockatiels has some whistles we taught him. None of the other birds do them, but after a few years, he still does.
August 5, 201113 yr It would take extreme conditions for a hen to lay fertile eggs outside a nest box. I have a friend who sorta had the same situation as you, and her budgie still talks and chortles.
August 5, 201113 yr Author Thank you all for you advise, It is much appreaciated. I will be taking a lot of time reading this wonderful forum. I am new to birds, but have been breeding dogs for 16 years, no comparison I know.
